Hamas assassination
February 22, 2010
European Union foreign ministers issued a statement condemning the use of forged EU passports in the killing of a leading Hamas militant in Dubai.
"The EU strongly condemns the fact that those involved in this action used fraudulent EU member states' passports and credit cards acquired through the theft of EU citizens' identities," the declaration issued Monday said.
Although the statement avoided any explicit mention of Israel, Dubai authorities have said they believe Israel's secret service was involved in the killing. Israel has refused to confirm or deny any involvement.
The foreign ministers are to meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman later on Monday.
The alleged killers of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh used 11 forged passports from Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Ireland when they entered the United Arab Emirates. Al-Mabhouh was found dead in his Dubai hotel on January 20.
Connection to Israel
Dubai authorities say they are "99 percent certain" that Israeli spies carried out the killing, and have suggested that the Israeli foreign intelligence service Mossad copied passports from European countries to allow the assassins to enter the Emirate more easily.
All four European countries have summoned Israeli diplomats to their foreign ministries to discuss the matter. Israel's refusal to comment is in accordance with its usual policy of ambiguity on such sensitive issues.
svs/acb/dpa/AFP/Reuters
Editor: Michael Lawton